Health at Work Making a difference 15 October 2007

The number of people with chronic conditions is rising (Source; General Household Survey 2002)

And rising at all ages

Women are slightly more prone to report chronic conditions; social class has a bigger impact though… ( source General Household Survey 2002)

Alan Johnson said a "cultural and societal shift" was needed The public health threat posed by obesity in the UK is a "potential crisis on the scale of climate change", the health secretary has warned. Obesity likened to climate change

And it is likely to continue rising because Increased Chronic Disease

And it is likely to continue rising because Increased Chronic Disease

Health care systems world wide are faced with the challenge of responding to the needs of people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart failure and mental illness. WHO 2000

Leading Risk Factors for Preventable Death Maternal and child underweight Unsafe sex High blood pressure Tobacco Alcohol Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene High cholesterol Indoor smoke from solid fuels High body mass index

Leading Risk Factors for Preventable Death Maternal and child underweight Unsafe sex High blood pressure Tobacco Alcohol Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene High cholesterol Indoor smoke from solid fuels High body mass index

InequalitiesInequalities IV & V I & II

UK falls further down European health league despite rise in funding Ian Traynor in Brussels Tuesday October 2, 2007 The Guardian The Guardian

Do you take time off for a cold? Thousands of people from Guernsey refuse to take time off work when they're ill because they fear for their jobs, according to research.

GPs reconsider advice to patients on sick leave A new survey of 1500 GPs has found that two-thirds (64%) are unaware of the evidence that work is beneficial for physical and mental health. However, nearly 90% said that if they knew of this evidence it would affect the advice they give to their patients.

05 September 2007 – GPs reconsider advice to patients on sick leave A new survey of 1500 GPs has found that two-thirds (64%) are unaware of the evidence that work is beneficial for physical and mental health. However, nearly 90% said that if they knew of this evidence it would affect the advice they give to their patients.

Effective Risk Communication Keeping the audience at the centre is essential, applying a case-by-case approach in selecting strategies that are best suited to:

Reach people’s hearts and minds Secure their involvement in the issue and its solutions Support and facilitate the journey to reduce or contain the risk

All public health initiatives have the potential to cause harm as well as good.

Research shows that for teenagers who smoke, this is an act of social conformity, not rebellion.

Risk and Cultural Types Individualistic Hierarchical Egalitarian Fatalistic

People are entitled to eat what they want – and if they put on weight it’s nobody else’s business

Fit Disabled Feeling Well Feeling Unwell Disease or disability not detected & feeling well Disease or disability not detected but feeling ill Disease or disability present but feeling well Disease present and feeling ill

Dahlgren and Whitehead 1991 from Acheson 1998

HEALTHDISEASE HOSPITAL ACUTE CURE TREATMENT PATIENT INTERVENTION COMMUNITY CHRONIC PREVENTION MONITORING CARE PERSON BIOMEDICALPSYCHOSOCIAL

Health needs assessment is a systematic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities and resource allocation that will improve health and reduce inequalities. (NICE 2005)

Why measure health? To establish priorities To assist planning To justify resources To assist in the development of professionals

Steps of Health Needs Assessment Getting started Identifying Health priorities Assessing a priority for action Planning for Change Moving on/ Review